Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling in Chongqing

　　    This former residence was Soong Ching Ling’s home and the original site of the China Defense League Central Committee during the Anti-Japanese War (1942–1945). Covering an area of 898 square meters with a construction area of 665 square meters, it consists of a main building, rear building, air-raid shelter, etc., and displays 110 historical artifacts and photos. It is classified as an A-level tourist attraction.

　　    Geographic Location

　　    The Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling in Chongqing is located at No. 5 Xincun, Lianglukou, Yuzhong District. It is an important cultural relic site related to the Anti-Japanese War in Chongqing, a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit, a municipal patriotism education base, a national A-level tourist attraction, and a national traditional education base for the united front.

　　    History of the Residence

　　    During the Anti-Japanese War, Soong Ching Ling visited Chongqing twice and lived and worked there for over four years.

　　    On March 31, 1940, accompanied by her two sisters, Soong Ching Ling first arrived in Chongqing, the wartime capital, attracting attention from all walks of life and becoming the focus of media discussion.

　　    Scenic Views of the Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling in Chongqing (11 images) However, Soong Ching Ling’s decision to go to Chongqing was not due to personal relations among the three sisters but to unite in the war effort and to realize her ideals of unity, solidarity, and joint resistance through action. She clarified this view in her speech “Impressions of My Visit to Chongqing.” Upon arriving in Chongqing, accompanied by her sisters, within just a few dozen days she visited refugee children housed in the Chongqing Children’s Welfare Institute, went to the First Children’s Welfare Institute on Gele Mountain to see orphans taken in during the war, and visited wounded soldiers at the Fifth Army Hospital, the main hospital of the “Friends of the Wounded” Society. She continuously conducted inspections, met with women representatives, wrote articles and letters, and watched performances by children, demonstrating deep concern for the nation’s fate, as well as for women and children. On May 9, Soong Ching Ling flew back to Hong Kong with her sisters. The visit of the three sisters caused a great sensation both domestically and internationally and was seen as a symbol of China’s united resistance. On December 8, 1941, the Pacific War broke out, and on the 10th, with the help of underground party members, Soong Ching Ling arrived in Chongqing from Hong Kong. This time, Soong Ching Ling came to Chongqing mainly to rebuild the China Defense League. She had no residence in Chongqing at the time and had to temporarily stay at her eldest sister Soong Ai-ling’s home. Soong Ai-ling’s husband was Kong Xiangxi, the Finance Minister of the Nationalist government. Soong Ching Ling’s every move in the Kong household was monitored by the servants, putting her in a perilous situation. She was completely unable to carry out the work of the China Defense League. She asked someone to find a new residence and, with the help of her younger brother Soong Zi-wen, moved into No. 3 Xincun, Lianglukou (now No. 5 Xincun, Lianglukou). Soong Ching Ling happily told the underground party that she had secured “freedom within one floor,” where friends could visit at any time. The China Defense League was initiated in 1938 by Soong Ching Ling, who invited prominent Chinese and foreign figures in Hong Kong to help establish it. In June of the same year, at Soong Ching Ling’s residence on Kennedy Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, the league was officially announced to be established by Soong Ching Ling. Soong Ching Ling served as the chair of the China Defense League, Soong Zi-wen as president, Hilda Selwyn-Clarke as honorary secretary, Norman France as honorary treasurer, and Israel Epstein as head of publicity. The China Defense League included people from all political parties and social strata, both domestic and international, making it an extremely broad united front organization. After the founding meeting, Soong Ching Ling, Soong Zi-wen, Hilda Selwyn-Clarke, Norman France, and Israel Epstein jointly signed and issued the “Founding Declaration of the China Defense League,” defining the league’s organizational nature and primary objectives. The declaration stated: “The goals of the China Defense League are twofold: first, during the current phase of the Anti-Japanese War, to encourage all peace-loving and democratic people around the world to further strive to supply China with medical aid and relief supplies. Second, to concentrate efforts and closely coordinate to enhance the effectiveness of these efforts.” Its main activities involved mobilizing and soliciting support from overseas Chinese and people worldwide for China’s Anti-Japanese War, with the primary goal of aiding the anti-Japanese forces led by the Chinese Communist Party. The league published the “China Defense League News Bulletin.” As soon as Soong Ching Ling moved into No. 3 Xincun, she continuously wrote letters abroad, inviting former members of the China Defense League Central Committee, such as Agnes Smedley, Rewi Alley, and other international friends, to quickly come to Chongqing to rebuild the league. The underground party transferred Liao Meng-xing to Chongqing to assist Soong Ching Ling with the league’s work. In August 1942, the China Defense League Central Committee was re-established in Chongqing, with Soong Ching Ling continuing to serve as chair. Committee members included Israel Epstein, Anna Louise Strong, Liao Meng-xing, John Service, Jane Strong Baker, and Sze Tsung Chen. Honorary members included Claire Boothe Luce, Feng Yuxiang, He Xiangning, Sun Fo, Mao Dun, and Richard Walsh. The office of the China Defense League was located at Soong Ching Ling’s residence—No. 3 Xincun, Lianglukou, Chongqing. Only Soong Ching Ling, Anna Louise Strong, and Liao Meng-xing regularly worked in the league’s office. Chongqing, as the wartime capital, made it very difficult to carry out the China Defense League’s work in the Nationalist-controlled areas, often encountering resistance from various quarters of the Nationalist government. Around the league’s office—at Soong Ching Ling’s residence—there were often secret agents conducting surveillance. The league’s official publication, the “China Defense League News Bulletin,” faced restrictions and was denied permission to publish. Coupled with soaring domestic prices during the war, the league’s work became even more challenging. In her article “From Hong Kong to Chongqing,” Soong Ching Ling described the league’s work over the past five years and the difficulties of carrying out its mission in Chongqing. But Soong Ching Ling did not flinch. Leveraging her high international reputation, she broke through various obstacles imposed by the Nationalist government, continuously wrote to contacts abroad, reported the true situation of the Chinese people’s resistance, and sought international aid. She actively organized fundraising efforts to provide relief to refugees, wounded soldiers, and children, arranged supplies, and transported large amounts of funds, medicines, medical equipment, food, and other relief supplies through various channels to the people in the anti-Japanese base areas led by the Chinese Communist Party. She also actively introduced and sent foreign doctors to work in the anti-Japanese base areas. She made outstanding contributions to supporting the Chinese people’s resistance.

　　    Preservation of the Residence

　　    Today, the courtyard where Soong Ching Ling lived, fought, and worked in Chongqing has become a municipal-level key cultural relics protection unit. It houses the Chongqing Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling Exhibition Hall and is also the original site of the China Defense League that she led during the Anti-Japanese War. Towering skyscrapers surround the exhibition hall, highlighting the unique elegance of Soong Ching Ling’s former residence. The exhibition hall covers an area of 1,200 square meters with a construction area of 740 square meters. The area is lined with evergreen trees on both sides, and in the center stands a two-story Western-style brick-and-wood structure building. In front of the building stands a solemn statue of Soong Ching Ling, with a small, delicate fan-shaped lawn in front of the statue, adding further beauty to the courtyard.

　　    Transportation to the Residence

　　    The exhibition hall is located at No. 5 Xincun, Lianglukou, Yuzhong District, Chongqing. It is easily accessible by public transport. From Chaotianmen, take bus 401; from Jiefangbei or Jiangbei, take buses 405 or 601; from Yangjiaping, take buses 466, 416, 413, or 411; from Shiqiaopu, take buses 819, 169, 118, or 109; from Shapingba, take bus 402; from the train station, take the Crown Escalator; from Nan’an, take bus 108; and from Dadukou, take buses 224 or 818 to Lianglukou to reach the Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling. The Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling Exhibition Hall is open to the public and remains open on holidays. It features three exhibitions: “The Life and Deeds of Soong Ching Ling,” “Cultural Relics and Materials of Soong Ching Ling in Chongqing,” and “Restored Exhibition.” Over the years, it has attracted numerous domestic and international visitors and received praise from all sectors. Last year, it applied to become a national patriotism education base and is now a “red tourism” scenic spot.

　　Soong Ching Ling (1893~1981)　　     Soong Ching Ling (1893–1981), Honorary President of the People’s Republic of China. A modern female revolutionary and one of the founders of the People’s Republic of China. Her ancestral home is Gulu Garden Village, Changsa Town. She was born on January 27, 1893, in Shanghai. In her early years, she studied at McTyeire School in Shanghai. In 1908, she went to Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, USA. She graduated in 1913 with a bachelor’s degree. In the same year, after returning to China, she began her revolutionary career as Secretary to Dr. Sun Yat-sen. On October 25, 1915, Soong Ching Ling married Sun Yat-sen. During the May Fourth Movement in 1919, in Beijing... More+